The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-11
SWORD BEARERS OF THE Sea.
Terrific Encounters with Ships.
The Wonderful Tales Of Jules Verne
Eclipsed.


observed in museums Of natural history
the timbers of ships pierced by sword
fishes are by no means uncommon.
This danger Of the deep is not unfa-
miliar to those who go down to the sea
in ships. but, at the same time, the oc-
currence constitutes one of the most GU
rious features Of geological history.
Ordinarily speaking, and as far as nat
uralist opinions go. the sword-iish APP
pears to be p%eaceable enough. When,
however, the fish IS injured or enraged
It's disposition becomes outrageously
fierce. Presumably it is in such fits of
temper that the sword-iish vents its
temper on the unoflending timbers of
ships. The latest account of such an
encounter comes to hand in the shape
OF a report from the pages of the cur
rent bulletin of the United States Fish
Commission. A certain schooner,
named the Volunteer, hailing from the
port of Gloucester, Mass, found itself
on June 18th last in the neighborhood
Of Block Island. About 4 p. m. on
chat day the vessel reeled from a sudden
shock, which at first suggested the posi-
blity of her having struck some hidden
reef not figuring in the chart. The
weather was so fine that the Volunteer
was well-nigh becalmed. and fortu-
nately captain and crew had plenty OF
leasure and opportunity to take things
calmly in face Of the mysterious dang
or which threatened them. A glance
over the side of the vessel sufficed to
reveal the cause of the shock. A sword
FISH of large size was seen in the act OF
charging the ship once again. 1t re-
treated, and then rushing through the
water renewed its assault with great
vigor. A boat was quickly manned,
and a harpoon duly dispatched the as
sailant. which was found to weigh three
hundred pounds. The effects of the
attack on the fish itself were most dis
nstrous. The Sword jaw had ON
pletely disappeared; the upper jaw it.
self was demolished, and both eyes had
deem destroyed. In due time the Vol
pnteer was locked at Gloucester, when
IN inspection was made Of the vessels
keel. II was then found that about six
feet from the vessels stem, near the
top of the keel, the sword had entered
the wood, and had actually broken
four times, rs the assault of the fish
was renewed. Four pieces of the
weapon we're found imbedded in the
keel. The fish had thus ased its dam
aged sword again and again in the
course of its attack, and, oblivious of
lhe hurt and pain, had sacrificed itself
IN the pursuit of an utterly unjustifable
,age.
Jules Verne could scarcely have m
sgined a more tragical encounter than
this. The incident. however, is quite in
Keeping with all we know of the habits
sf the creature. The singular fact in
sword-fsh history is the apparently
meaningless and sudden character OF
The attacks made by the animals on
It's neighbors in the sea. Tales Of its
sombat with whales and porpoises fig
are in natural history. The sword-fish
charges tho great sea mammals and
spears them with as deathly a thrust rs
ever harpooner gave. The fish has the
advantage in every sense of the term.
st is whale with he same ease that a
fight n 1.-the, active creature, and can
attack the horseman a poster and an
soy a dragon in heavy marching order.
Curiously enough, the sword-fsh and its
wa,s attracted a considerable amount
Of attention from biologists who can
scarcely be described as of modern
late. Sir Thomas Browne himself tells
rs of a sword-fish which he saw ''en-
tangled in the herring nets at Var
mouth" IL was agreeable unto the
icon Tor picture) in Johnstonus with a
smooth sword, not unlike the glandius
ef Rondeletius. about n yard and a half
long" The account continues that the
Ssh had mo teeth; eyes very remark
able, inclosed in a hard, oartilaginous
sovercle about tho bigness of a good
apple"
This is a very fair description of the
animal. and stands forth In respect to
Us accuracy in marked contrast to
another account of the sword-fsh given
BY that somewhat imaginative person.